The Powerhouse of Law & Capital. Built for Businesses, Private Capital, and Family Enterprises
About Handle
Built for Businesses, Private Capital, and Family Enterprises. We unite strategy, M&A, and legal execution to deliver certainty and growth wherever your ambitions lead.
Handle was born from experience. More than a decade inside family enterprises taught us one truth: three essentials decide every outcome – Strategy, M&A, and Law & Arbitration. From this foundation, we restructured Handle to serve three universes – Businesses, Private Capital, and Family Enterprises.
We stand as the powerhouse of law and capital, built not to advise from the sidelines, but to execute with accountability. In every mandate, our promise is simple: to give you the power to move forward with certainty.
“Before offering your business for M&A, you must raise it with discipline. Strengthen governance, restore financial clarity, and sharpen strategy. A parented business attracts investors with confidence, not discounts.”
Mohamed abu El-MakaremManaging Partner & Chairman
We Operate Across Sectors and Disciplines, With One Powerhouse Model
We operate where law, capital, and strategy converge, delivering partner-led execution across businesses, private capital, and family enterprises.
Standard of Legal Advocacy
Law & Arbitration
Defending business interests with precision across disputes, arbitration, and litigation
Center of Capital Deployment
Capital
Deployment Structuring, deploying, and syndicating capital to power growth and opportunity.
Compass of Business Growth
Strategy
Growth Guiding enterprises through turnaround, expansion, and transformation with clarity and foresight.
Shaping the UAE Standard of Executive-Driven Advisory
Anchored in the Region’s Most Strategic Hubs
We work across the UAE’s leading financial centers, free zones, regulatory authorities, and courts; giving our clients certainty in both capital and law.
Our Leaders
Mohamed Abu El-Makarem is an experienced advisor and international negotiator working with boards, investors, and family enterprises on complex commercial and strategic matters across multiple jurisdictions. His work sits at the intersection of capital, governance, and execution, particularly in situations requiring senior judgment and discretion.
Areas of Expertise
- Business transformation and corporate restructuring
- M&A, strategic investments, and cross-border transactions
- Capital structuring, IPO preparation, and investor readiness
- Board advisory on governance, continuity, and risk
- Scenario planning and market entry across international markets
As Managing Partner and Chairman of Handle, he leads the firm’s overall strategy and governance, while remaining directly involved in key mandates that require hands-on senior oversight.
Oliver von Wolff is an investment and deal advisory specialist with over 25 years of experience across mergers and acquisitions, capital structuring, and cross-border investments. His work focuses on structuring and executing complex transactions, particularly in regulated environments where capital, governance, and jurisdictional risk intersect.
Areas of Expertise
- Mergers and acquisitions and deal advisory
- Wealth and asset management for family offices and institutions
- Investment portfolio strategy and capital allocation
- Financial due diligence and risk analysis
- Cross-border transactions and market expansion
As Senior Partner at Handle, Oliver leads the Capital practice, overseeing M&A, investment strategy, and capital deployment mandates across the firm.
Hossam Iraqe is a finance executive with experience in corporate finance, investment management, and business scaling across multiple sectors. He has worked on structuring, managing, and restructuring businesses and investment portfolios across the GCC, the Middle East, and Africa.
Areas of Expertise
- Corporate finance and financial structuring
- Investment and portfolio management
- Business restructuring and financial turnarounds
- Tax structuring and cost optimization
- Financial planning to support growth and scalability
As Chief Financial Officer of Handle, he oversees the firm’s financial strategy and supports capital-driven growth across the platform.
Hamda Al Falasi is a legal and regulatory specialist with extensive experience in dispute resolution, corporate litigation, and regulatory compliance within the UAE. She works closely with clients on complex legal matters involving commercial disputes, governance, and regulatory risk, particularly in enforcement-sensitive environments.
She brings over 15 years of practical experience across government institutions and leading organizations, with deep expertise in legal consulting, financial crime compliance, and regulatory oversight. She is actively involved in high-stakes matters requiring judgment, discretion, and regulatory precision.
Areas of Expertise
- Commercial litigation and dispute resolution
- Regulatory compliance and risk management
- Corporate governance and contract advisory
- Financial crime, AML, and regulatory frameworks
- Legal oversight in complex corporate environments
As Associate Partner at Handle, Hamda leads the Litigation and Regulatory practice, working closely with clients on contentious and regulatory matters while strengthening legal structure, compliance, and governance.
Etienne van den Peereboom is a strategy and transformation leader with over three decades of experience in corporate strategy, business transformation, and turnaround situations. He began his career in top-tier consulting, spending 15 years with Deloitte and Arthur D. Little, before moving into entrepreneurship, investment, and strategic advisory roles across multiple sectors and geographies.
Areas of Expertise
- Corporate strategy and business transformation
- Business turnarounds and restructuring
- Market entry and international expansion
- Investment planning and portfolio strategy
- Multi-sector advisory across industrial and service businesses
As Senior Partner at Handle, Etienne leads the Strategy and Transformation practice, combining strategic direction with hands-on execution to support clients through complex change.
Partner with Handle
Have a question or challenge? Reach out for tailored advice on law, capital, or strategy. Our experts respond promptly with clarity and solutions suited to your ambitions.
